The models of solid NaCl describe it as consisting of Na^+ cations and CI^- anio

Question

The models of solid NaCl describe it as consisting of Na^+ cations and CI^- anions. If this is the case. why is, NaCI(s) not an electrolyte? Explain the distinctly different behavior in the conductivity of NaCI(s)) and NaCI(aq) What species are present in each of these substances? Is HgCI_2, (aq) a strong electrolyte, weak electrolyte, or nonelectrolyte? What species are present in this solution? Is this consistent with the statement in the Pre-Lab Preparation that "salts ionize completely in dilute aqueous solution"? What species are present in 0.1 M HCI and NaOH solutions? Write equations to describe the reactions that yield these species.

Explanation / Answer

Dear Student,

Substances that give ions when dissolved in water are called electrolytes.Since NaCl is an ionic solid (s), which consists of cations Na+ and anions Cl-. No molecules of NaCl are present in NaCl solid or NaCl solution.

Sodium chloride, which is regular table salt, becomes an electrolyte, when it dissolves in water or another ionizing solvent. In its solid form, sodium chloride is not an electrolyte.

In another way,

NaCl (common salt) is solid in state and solid ions or compounds don't conduct electricity. It needs to be either melted, molten or dissolved in a solution (i.e. water) first. This is because the electrons in a solid state won't be free to move to either the Cathode (-ve) or to the Anode (+ve). In a liquid state the electrons are free enough to move.

Conducty behaviour

When NaCl is solid the ions Na+ and Cl- are not free to move and can not conduct the electricity. when in a aqeous solution and as a liquid the ions are free to move can conduct eleectricirty.

when molecules of NaCl dissolve in water we don't really have any NaCl as such in the solution. We have Na+ and Cl- ions because NaCl dissociates. We say the species present in solution are Na+(aq) and Cl-(aq). In this case, the species present in solution are the ions. In other cases, where the molecules don't dissolve in water, we would have molecular species in solution rather than ionic species.

Given that Cl-(aq) is a good conductor ,HgCl2 is a medium conductor-strong electrolyte, also due to to mercury being part of the bond. The species present in HgCl2 are the positive Hg ions and the negative Cl2 ions. These are actually the reason HgCl2 is a conductor, the ions break free when in an aqueous state and are able to pass electric currents

HCl <==> H+ +Cl-

NaOH<==>Na+ +OH-

these are the ionic species prsent in HCl and NaOH

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